Minor League Report.

AAA: SWB rained out

AA: Trenton rained out.

High A: Tampa (63-71) split a DH.

Reg. sched. game: Lost 4-0, getting just 2 hits. SS Diego Castillo’s 3 errors led to 3 unearned runs.

Makeup of 8/27 rainout: Won 5-3. Castillo 2 hits, RBI. 1B Steven Sensley 2 hits, 2 RBI.

Low A: Charleston (69-66) lost 8-5. LF Canaan Smith 2 hits, .306. RF Josh Stowers 2 RBI. C Eduardo Navas 3 hits, 2 RBI. 2 solo HR.

 

Prospects heading for the Arizona Fall League.

From MLB.com

Yankees (Surprise): Daniel Bies, RHP; Glenn Otto, RHP; Donny Sands, C; Josh Stowers, OF; Brandon Wagner, 1B

Acquired from the Mariners in an offshoot of the Sonny Gray trade in January, Stowers has a chance to have four average or better tools, with his arm the lone exception. Otto has had difficulty staying healthy but can reach 97 mph and devastate hitters with his curveball when he’s at 100 percent.

Game 72. Yanks leave too many on base in 6-5 loss. O’Day, Wilson start rehab.

The Yankees had many chances to blow the game open. But they didn’t. They went 0 for 10 with RISP and left 13 men on base, and this came back to bite them in a 6-5 loss to KC last night.

With the loss, the Yankees are now 38-34, 3rd in AL East, 5 1/2 back.

The main culprits were Giancarlo Stanton, 0 for 3 (did walk twice) left six on, Gleyber Torres 0 for 4, all strikeouts (did walk once, left 3 on), and Clint Frazier (0 for 5, 3 strikeouts, left 6 on ). Torres is something like 2 for his last 33, and his batting average has dropped over 30 points. Where Torres’ power has gone is baffling too. I don’t expect 38 HR as in 2019, but we are close to the halfway point of the season, and Torres has just 3 HR. Something close to Torres’ 2018 rookie year when he hit 24 would be enough and expected.

The Yanks scored first, when Luke Voit, just off of rehab, hit the first pitch he saw 423 feet for a two-out HR, Voit’s 2nd HR of the season. The Yankees went on to load the bases, but Frazier grounded out.

In the second, Kyle Higashioka homered for his sixth HR of the season. It put the Yanks up 2-0. But with two on and one out, Voit popped up and Stanton struck out.

Right then I had a bad feeling. Yes, the Yankees were up 2-0 with their ace, Gerrit Cole, on the mound, but when you leave five men on base in the first two innings and don’t break the game wide open, it often comes back to bite you, and it did for the Yankees last night.

A bad break (literally) for Cole in the third when a couple broken bat hits led to a KC run as the Royals cut the Yanks’ lead to 2-1. Cole gave up a game-tying HR in the fourth. 2-2. Those were the only hits Cole gave up.

The Yanks left the bases loaded in the fourth, when Stanton grounded into a force out. Another blown chance to salt the game away.

In the seventh, the Yanks went up 3-2. Luke Voit tripled. A fan tried to catch the ball (kick him out of the park. I hate when fans reach over the wall. They know better and still do it). There was no interference, and it was unclear if the ball would have cleared the fence anyway. Pinch-runner Tyler Wade then scored on a wild pitch.

Jonathan Loaisiga came in for the eighth inning. Cole had once again done a fine job, but the Yanks didn’t support him enough. Cole is 8-3 this season, but the Yankees are 0-4 when Cole gets a no-decision. Loaisiga has been great this season, but didn’t have it last night, giving up four runs.

D.J. LeMahieu got the Yanks back in the game with a two-run HR (6) in the bottom of the eighth to cut the Royals’ lead to 6-5. Aaron Judge then just missed tying the game up, as he doubled. So the Yanks had the tying run on second with one out. Once again, nothing. Rougned Odor popped up, and Stanton grounded out.

The Yanks got two on in the ninth, but Brett Gardner popped up to end the game.

The lack of getting just one clutch hit to break the game open really killed the Yanks last night. What a frustrating loss.

LeMahieu 2 hits, 2 RBI. 2-run HR (6)
Judge 2 hits
Voit 2 hits, triple and a solo HR (2)
Urshela 2 hits
Higashioka solo HR (6)

If only Stanton, Torres or Frazier had come through just once. Sigh.

Cole 7 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. Two broken bat his and the HR. That was all. 2.33
Loaisiga (L, 7-3; BS, 2) 2/3 IP, 4 R, 5 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.52
Luetge 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.48


Minor League Notes, and a lot to think about and discuss here:

The 40-man roster creates some problems. Say someone is doing well (see below) but isn’t on the roster? Well, you want to add him, but who does he replace?


AAA: SWB (29-11) crushed Lehigh Valley, 14-5, in a game in which both Darren O’Day and Justin Wilson both started rehab stints. Both pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Hoy Jun Park, a 2B/SS, played CF. Read into that as you wish. He had 3 hits and an RBI, and is hitting .366 for SWB. He hits lefty. Interesting he played CF last night. Meanwhile, the Yanks aren’t getting anything from their lefty hitters. Odor (.193-7-15, OPS+ 78; 100 is average). Gardner .206-2-8, OPS+ 77. Gardner turns 38 in August. But Park isn’t on the 40-man roster. I’ve advocated bringing Park up. But at whose expense, and why did Park play the OF for the first time last night? I do have to wonder. RF Ryan LaMarre 3 hits, RBI. DH Trey Amburgey 3 RBI. Erik Kratz, former big-league catcher, and ex-Yankee, really likes Amburgey, a righty hitter. Amburgey is hitting .360 at SWB. Right now, he may be a better option than Frazier (.187-5-12, OPS+ 77) or Miguel Andujar (.242-5-9, OPS+77). Amburgey, like Park, is not on the 40 man roster, so if you give him a chance, at whose expense? The point is, if someone is raking at AAA, when do they get rewarded with a promotion? And at whose expense? How long do you continue playing someone whose adjusted OPS is 22-23% BELOW league average, as is the case with Odor, Gardner, Frazier and Andujar? These are legitimate questions GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone must decide, especially if the Yankees are to improve.

Besides the rehab stints of O’Day and Wilson, and the continued success and questions about Park and Amburgey, some other notes on SWB’s win: 2B Derek Dietrich 3 hits, RBI. 3B Armando Alvarez 2 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR. 1B Rob Brantly 2 RBI. C Max McDowell 2 hits. SS Andrew Velazquez, 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 2-run HR.

AA: Somerset ppd.

High A: Hudson Valley (26-16) won 12-3. SS Josh Smith 2 hits. C Josh Breaux 2 hits. CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits, 4 RBI, a 3-run HR. 3B James Nelson 2 hits, 2 RBI. 1B Chad Bell 3 hits, 2 RBI. RF Frederick Cuevas 2 hits, RBI, solo HR.

Low A: Tampa was up 2-0 when the game was suspended in the top of the second inning.

Game 71. Triple Play (Yanks’ 3rd this year!) ends Yanks’ 2-1 win.

Aroldis Chapman had walked the first two batters in the top of the ninth. He had a 1-0 count on the next batter. He had thrown 10 pitches, and only one was a strike.

Then he got a 5-4-3 triple play to end the game as the Yankees (38-33, 3rd in AL East, 4 1/2 back) edged Oakland 2-1 on Sunday.

The triple play to end the game was the third triple play the Yanks have turned this season, tying a MLB record. It was the second they turned in less than a week, and was more traditional than last week’s 1-3-6-2-5-6 triple play.

Oakland got their only run in the first inning, when the third batter of the game, Matt Olson, homered.

The pitcher’s duel continued all game long, and the Yankees only got three hits in the game, all doubles, two by Gary Sanchez. They struck out 15x.

In the bottom of the sixth, Clint Frazier led off the inning with a walk, and an out later, was balked to second base. Aaron Judge walked, and Sanchez doubled in both runners. 2-1 Yanks, and thanks to the game-ending triple play, that score held up.

The Yankees have halved the deficit. They are 4 1/2 out now where not long ago, they were 9 back. They get 1B Luke Voit back tomorrow (Tuesday). See below for how he did Sunday. No word on a corresponding move, but I’d expect Chris Gittens to be sent back down. They are off today.

UPDATE: Gittens was, in fact, sent down after Sunday’s game to make room for Voit.

Lucas Luetge gave up a one-out triple in the top of the eighth, but got a strikeout and fly out to escape the inning unscathed.

Sanchez 2 hits, 2 RBI.


Montgomery 5 1/3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.03
Loaisiga (W, 7-2) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 W, 1 K. 1.63
Luetge (H, 2) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 2.57
Chapman (S, 16) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 W, 0 K. 1.98


Minor League Report (Deivi shaky again, Park continues to rake):

AAA: SWB (28-11) won 4-3. CF Estevan Florial 2 OF assists, removed from game after getting HBP. Infielder Hoy Jun Park (2B/SS) 2 hits, RBI, hitting .360 at AAA. He had the GW walkoff HR. RF Socrates Brito 2-run HR. 3B Armando Alvarez 2 hits. Another shaky outing for Deivi Garcia. 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 W, 2 K. AAA ERA 7.81. Yikes.

AA: Somerset (27-14) won 4-0. 1B Luke Voit 2 hits, 2 RBI on rehab. Starter Glenn Otto (W, 4-2, 3.45) 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 W, 5 K.

High A: Hudson Valley (25-16) won 5-2. SS Josh Smith 2 hits. DH Ezequiel Duran 2 hits, RBI. CF Brandon Lockridge 2 hits. Starter Jhony Brito (2-2, 2.70) 5 1/3 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 W, 6 K. (C Anthony Seigler with 2 catcher interference’s).

Low A: Tampa (28-14) lost 11-6. DH Austin Wells 2 hits. RF Jake Sanford 2 RBI. CF Pat DeMarco 3 hits, RBI.

Game 70. Yanks overcome 4-1 deficit for a 7-5 win. Voit to return Tuesday.

Gio Urshela overcame getting a splinter in his eye early in the game to hit a key late-inning HR, and the Yankees (37-33, 3rd, 5 1/2 back) overcame a 4-1 deficit to defeat Oakland 7-5 yesterday. One good thing: The Yanks were once 9 back, and it’s now 5 1/2.

A couple of different Yankee fan clubs were at the game.

In the middle of the game, Gio’s bat splintered as he GIDP. A piece of the bat got into his eye and, in pain, Gio had trouble trying to run to first, enabling the A’s to turn two. After getting the splinter removed and presumably some eye wash, Urshela later homered.

Domingo German was shaky. He gave up a HR to the second batter of the game, and Oakland had a quick 1-0 lead.

He gave up another HR in the top of the fourth, and the A’s were up 2-0.

The Yanks got a run back in the bottom of the fourth. Aaron Judge singled, and an out later, moved to second on a WP. Giancarlo Stanton walked, and Urshela (after the bat incident, which happened in the second inning) singled in Judge.

German then gave up two runs in the top of the fifth and the A’s were up 4-1. But here is where Nestor Cortes, Jr. became the savior of the game.

With the Yanks down 4-1, and runners on first and third with no one out, Cortes struck out the next two batters and got a fly out to keep it at 4-1. Cortes pitched three scoreless innings of relief to keep the Yankees in the game.

Gary Sanchez led off the bottom of the sixth with his 11th HR of the season to make it 4-2. The comeback was underway.

The Yanks tied it up in the seventh. Clint Frazier led off the inning with a double, and two outs later, Judge singled him in. Sanchez walked, then Stanton singled to tie up the game.

In the bottom of the eighth, Urshela homered (9) to lead off the inning. PH Chris Gittens walked, and Tyler Wade then pinch-ran for Gittens. Frazier walked, and Brett Gardner bunted both runners over. D.J. LeMahieu singled both runners in to make it 7-4.

The Yanks would need those insurance runs, since the A’s got a run off of Aroldis Chapman in the top of the ninth before Chapman closed out the game. Not before manager Aaron Boone got ejected for arguing balls and strikes, though.

LeMahieu 2 RBI
Judge 2 hits, RBI
Sanchez solo HR (11)
Stanton 2 for 2, 2 walks, RBI
Urshela 2 hits, 2 RBI, solo HR (9)
Frazier 2 hits.


German 4+ IP, 4 R, 7 H, 2 W, 6 K. Gave up 2 HR. 4.22
Cortes 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 W, 3 K. 1.46 Saved Yankees in this game.
Green (W, 2-4) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 3 K. 2.55
Chapman (S, 15) 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 W, 2 K. 2.05


MInor League Notes: Voit homers back Tuesday. O’Day starts rehab Tuesday.

AAA: SWB PPD.

AA: Somerset (26-14) lost 14-5. DH Luke Voit led off the bottom of the first with a HR, then was removed from the game. He is expected to rejoin the Yankees on Tuesday. SS Oswald Peraza (keep an eye on him) 3 hits, RBI, solo HR (.302 for AA since callup; .305-7-19 overall, 16 SB in 39 games). C Jason Lopez solo HR.

High A: Hudson Valley (24-16) won 8-4. LF Elijah Dunham 2 RBI. 3B James Nelson 2 hits, 3 RBI, 2-run HR. 2B Oliver Dunn 2 hits, solo HR. RF Frederick Cuevas 2 hits, RBI.

Low A: Tampa (28-13) won 7-6. DH Anthony Volpe 3 hits, 4 RBI, 2 HR, a 3-run shot and a solo HR (.307-8-36). C Austin Wells 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR (.280-5-36).

Game 69. Ex-Yanks’ prospect beats Yanks, 5-3.

A few years back, James Kaprielian was a top Yankees’ prospect. Then injuries slowed his development, and he was traded to the A’s with others for Sonny Gray. We know how poorly Gray turned out.

Last night, Yankees fans got a taste of what might have been. Kaprielian and the A’s shut down the Yankees (36-33, 3rd in AL East, 6 back) 5-3.

James Taillon started for the Yanks, and gave up a HR on a two-out, 0-2 pitch to put the A’s up 1-0 in the first inning. I feel as if the Yanks need to make a deal for a starter (two, preferably) ASAP. Taillon, in 13 starts this season, has only thrown 58 innings, an average of only 4 1/2 innings per start. Only twice in those 13 starts has he gone more than 5 IP. He has ONE win. The ERA is 5.59. He is coming off two TJ surgeries in his career, as well as overcoming cancer. But he isn’t cutting it. Also, Michael King is better as a reliever and not a starter. He also isn’t providing length (since replacing the injured Corey Kluber in the rotation, King is averaging less than 4 innings/start in his 4 starts). King’s ERA in 13 relief appearances in his career is 3.93 but it is 7.28 in eight career starts.

But the Yanks don’t have replacements handy. Luis Severino’s return has been delayed because of the groin injury. Deivi Garcia has been horrible at AAA. Clarke Schmidt has not thrown a pitch yet. Promising youngsters are at AA, or below, not at AAA.

I don’t believe the Yanks can make up ground with Taillon and/or King in the rotation. GM Brian Cashman needs to make a trade ASAP.

Taillon gave up a run in the top of the third to make it 2-0, Oakland.

The Yanks tied it up in the bottom of the third when with two out, Brett Gardner walked and D.J. LeMahieu followed with a 2-run HR (5). The Yanks only got 4 hits in the game.

The Yanks took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Rougned Odor homered (7).

But Wandy Peralta gave up a 3-run HR in the top of the sixth that put Oakland up 5-3, and that stayed as the final score.

Looking at Peralta’s ERA (5.28 as a Yankee), I think manager Aaron Boone trusts him too much. The Yanks will get help here. Both Darren O’ Day (who was doing well before getting hurt) and Justin Wilson (who wasn’t) should be back soon.

LeMahieu 2-run HR (5)
Odor solo HR (7)


Taillon 4 2/3 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 5 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1 HBP. 5.59
Peralta (L, 3-2; combined SF/NYY record) 1 1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 0 W, 1 K. Gave up 1 HR 5.32 (combined SF/NYY ERA)
Luetge 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1 HBP; 1 WP 2.91
Cessa 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 3.10

Minor League Notes (VOIT ON REHAB):

AAA: SWB (27-11) won 7-5. Nick Nelson 4 1/3 IP, 1 R; Albert Abreu 2 IP, scoreless, 5 K (in his brief time with Yanks, 4 games, Abreu has done well this year). CF Greg Allen 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2 -run HR. Two hits, RBI. LF Trey Amburgey 2 hits, RBI. Amburgey is hitting .372 at SWB. Former Yankees C Erik Kratz likes him. Neither Clint Frazier or Miguel Andujar is lighting it up. Why not give Amburgey a chance? 1B Rob Brantly 2 hits, 3 RBI, solo HR. 3B Derek Dietrich solo HR.

AA: Somerset (26-13) won 8-1. Janson Junk (2-1, 1.03) 6 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 1B Luke Voit on rehab: 3 for 4, scored 3, drove in 3, double, solo HR. DH Oswald Peraza 2 hits, RBI. 2B Oswaldo Cabrera 3 hits, 3 RBI. CF Tom Milone 2 hits, solo HR.

High A: Hudson Valley (23-16) split a DH.

Game 1: lost 6-2. SS Josh Smith solo HR.
Game 2: won 2-0. Smith DH, 2 hits, scored both runs. 2B Ezequiel Duran 2 hits, 2 RBI.

Low A: Tampa (27-13) lost both games of a DH.

Game 1: lost 3-1. All 3 runs unearned. RF Juan De Leon solo HR.
Game 2: lost 8-2. Infielder (2B/SS) Jesus Bastidas 2 hits, RBI.

.

Game 68. Yanks sweep Jays, 8-4 in game featuring a triple play.

The Yankees (36-32, 3rd, 6 out) got a much-needed sweep of the Blue Jays with an 8-4 win that featured a lot.

For one thing, for the first time in franchise history, the Yankees have turned TWO triple plays in the same season. This one was the first 1-3-6-2-5-6 triple play in MLB history.

On top of that, Gio Urshela and Aaron Judge each made great defensive plays, and for the third straight game, a pinch-hitter that manager Aaron Boone sent up to the plate came through big time.

In the bottom of the first, Yankees’ starter Michael King (who is better in relief than as a starter) walked Marcus Semien, the leadoff hitter, then gave up a single to Bo Bichette. A WP moved the runners to second and third. Then came the unique triple play. Vlad Guerrero, Jr. bounced one back to King, who threw to first to get Guerrero. Out #1, Bichette was trapped between second and third, and Yankees’ 1B D.J. LeMahieu threw to SS Gleyber Torres. Semien, also trapped, broke for home. Torres threw to C Gary Sanchez, who ran Semien back to third before flipping to 3B Gio Urshela, who tagged Semien out. Out #2. Urshela then spun around and threw to Torres, who tagged out Bichette, who tried to move up when the Yankees tagged Semien out. Out #3. Got that? Any way, a triple play, the Yanks’ second of this season, and the first one ever that went 1-3-6-2-5-6.

The Yanks then scored right away in the top of the second. Urshela doubled, and Brett Gardner singled him to third. Miguel Andujar hit into a fielder’s choice, and reached on an error, Urshela scoring. Yanks up 1-0. Gardner was then caught at the plate on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Tyler Wade, and although the Yanks did load the bases back up, they didn’t score anymore that inning.

In the top of the third, Giancarlo Stanton singled and one out later, Urshela homered (8) to make it 3-0.

Toronto scored twice in the bottom of the third inning to cut the Yanks’ lead to 3-2. In this inning, Gleyber Torres tweaked his back and had to be removed for a pinch-hitter in the top of the fourth. He appears OK and day-to-day, though.

In the bottom of the fourth, Gio Urshela made an excellent defensive play for the last out of the inning.

Toronto tied it in the fifth, and went ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth. It could have been even worse. Shortly after going ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth, Blue Jays’ RF Cavan Biggio hit a deep drive to right that appeared to be a 2-run HR that would have given Toronto a 6-3 lead except that Aaron Judge jumped, extended his arm over the wall, and robbed Biggio of that possible HR to keep the score at 4-3.

The Yanks came right back with four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Rougned Odor, who replaced Torres earlier, led off the inning with a single, and Stanton homered (13) to put the Yankees up 5-4. Sanchez and Urshela both singled, then Gardner bunted them over. After an out that didn’t advance the runners, Chris Gittens pinch-hit for Tyler Wade and laced a two-run single to make it 7-4.

In the top of the ninth, Sanchez singled. Urshela struck out after just missing a 2-run HR. The ball was just foul. Gardner walked and both runners then moved up on a WP. After a walk to Andujar loaded the bases, Gittens hit a sac fly to make it 8-4, which wound up as the final score.

Stanton 2 hits. 2 RBI. A 2-run HR (13).
Urshela 3 hits. Double, 2-run HR (8). Excellent defensive play.
Judge robbed a batter of a 2-run HR.
Gittens 1 for 1, 3 RBI


King 4 1/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 1 K. 1 WP 4.08
Luetge 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.00
Green (W, 1-4) 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 2 K. 2.62
Loaisiga (H, 9) 1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 3 K. 1.70
Britton 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1 HBP. 0.00

Earlier in the day, the Yanks traded Mike Ford to Tampa Bay for $100K and a player to be named later.


Minor league Notes.

AAA: SWB (26-11) won 4-2. SS Hoy Jun Park 1-2, 2 walks (.372 at AAA). RF Socrates Brito 2 hits, 2 RBI, 2-run HR. DH Kellin Deglan solo HR.

AA: Somerset (25-13) won 9-3. Starter Ken Waldichuk 4 2/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 5 W, 7 K. Gave up 2 HR. Waldichuk had pitched 30 2/3 scoreless innings for High A Hudson Valley before a callup. This was his first start at AA. He hurt himself with 4 walks in the first inning. Two pitchers 4 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings of relief (Nick Green and Ron Marinaccio). CF Michael Beltre 2 hits, RBI on a solo HR. 3B Oswaldo Cabrera 3 hits, 2 RBI, 2 solo HR. 2B Diego Castillo 3 hits, 2 RBI. C Donny Sands 4 RBI, a 3-run HR.

High A: Hudson Valley (22-15) won 3-2. SS Josh Smith 2 hits. DH Anthony Seigler 2 hits. LF Elijah Dunham 3 hits.
Starter Shawn Semple 6 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 W, 11 K. Gave up 1 HR.

Low A: Tampa rained out.

Ex-Yankee pitcher Art Ditmar passes away at the age of 92.

Art Ditmar, an ex-Yankees’ pitcher who was involved in a controversy regarding the 1960 World Series, passed away last week at the age of 92.

Ditmar pitched for the Philadelphia A’s (1954), Kansas City A’s (1955-1956), Yankees (1957-1961), and back with the Kansas City A’s (1961-1962).

He beat the Yankees for his first MLB victory in the last game the A’s played at old Shibe Park (at that time renamed Connie Mack Stadium) before the A’s moved to KC in 1955. In this game, Yogi Berra played 3B and Mickey Mantle played SS.

Ditmar led the league in losses in 1956, going 12-22.

He pitched well for the Yankees in the 1957 and 1958 World Series, getting a ring for the 1958 World Champs.

He went 13-9, 2.90 in 1959 (ERA+ 126) and 15-9, 3.06 (ERA+ 118) in 1960, his two best years in the majors.

He then started game 1 of the 1960 WS. This prevented Whitey Ford from pitching in Games 1, 4 and 7 and may have cost the Yankees the WS. Ditmar lost both games he started, getting knocked out of Game 1 in the very first inning, getting just one out, and getting knocked out in the second inning of Game 5.

The decision to start Ditmar, and not go with Ford (who threw complete game shutouts in Games 3 and 6) contributed to the Yankees losing the WS and in letting manager Casey Stengel go after that 1960 World Series.

Many years later, a TV commercial insinuated incorrectly that Ditmar was the one who gave up the WS winning HR to Bill Mazeroski (it was Ralph Terry) in that WS. Ditmar sued but the case was dismissed.

Ditmar was 72-77, 3.98 in his MLB career (ERA+ 97; 100 is average). His 162 game average was 11-12, 3.98. That average would be about 24 starts, 20 relief appearances over 162 games.

He pitched six scoreless innings, across two games, against the Braves in the 1957 WS, and 3 2/3 scoreless innings in one game of the 1958 WS against the Braves. But in that 1960 WS against the Pirates he was 0-2, 21.60.

In five WS games, two starts, he was 0-2, 3.18.

As a hitter, he hit .178 with 2 HR.

Game 67. Sanchez’ PH HR leads Yanks, Cole, to 3-2 win.

Gary Sanchez hit a 2-run, PH HR in the top of the seventh, and the Yanks survived a ninth-inning scare to beat Toronto up in Buffalo (Covid restrictions ballpark) by a 3-2 score Wednesday night.

The win put the Yankees at 35-32 for the season. They are in third place in the AL East, 7 back of Tampa Bay and 6 back of Boston.

The Yanks scored in the first inning but missed the chance to get more runs. D.J. LeMahieu reached on an error, and Aaron Judge singled. Gleyber Torres walked, and the Yankees had the bases loaded with no one out. Giancarlo Stanton hit a SF but that was the only run the Yanks would get that inning. Not only that, Judge’s hit was the only hit the Yankees would get until the seventh inning.

Yankees’ starter Gerrit Cole gave up a HR to Marcus Semien on his second pitch of the game. In the fifth inning, Cole gave up another solo HR, this one to Cavan Biggio, and the Blue Jays were up 2-1.

In the top of the seventh, Miguel Andujar singled to lead off the inning. It was just the Yankees’ second hit of the game. One out later, Sanchez PH for Kyle Higashioka and drilled his 10th HR of the season. The two-run shot gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the ninth, Aroldis Chapman gave up a single, then a double to put runners on second and third with no one out. Chapman escaped with a strikeout, then a comebacker that caught Vlad Guerrero, Jr. too far off the bag at third. Guerrero was tagged out, 1-2-5, then Chapman got a liner to center to finish off his escape and the ballgame.

The Yankees only got four hits in the game.

Sanchez 2-run HR (10)


Cole (W, 8-3) 8 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 1 W, 4 K. Gave up 2 HR. 2.31
Chapman (S, 14) 1 P, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.78

Minor league briefing: A couple of walk-off homers. Nice records for the farm teams.

AAA: SWB (25-11) got a 3-run HR by C Rob Brantly in the bottom of the 10th to win 10-7. SS Hoy Jun Park (.368 at AAA, .318 combined AA/AAA this year) 1 for 2, 4 walks, RBI (I would like Odor cut loose and Park, 25, a lefty hitter, given a shot. Park also plays 2b). LF Tom Milone 3 hits, RBI. The Yanks let Ryan LaMarre be a free agent, possibly clearing a roster spot for someone like Park or maybe OF Trey Amburgey (26, Righty bat, hitting .365, and ex-Yankees C Erik Kratz likes him) . We’ll see. Maybe Park and Amburgey don’t cut it in the majors, but given the way some Yanks are not hitting, why not give them a chance if there is an opportunity available?

AA: Somerset (21-13) won 7-5. Rehabbing Luke Voit 0 for 3, walk, struck out 2x. Luis Medina, just promoted, 5 2/3 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 W, 10 K. 2b Diego Castillo 3 hits, RBI. C Donny Sands 3 RBI, GW 2-run HR in bottom of the 11th.

High A: Hudson Valley (21-15) lost 6-4. DH Josh Breaux 4 hits, RBI. SS Josh Smith 2 hits.

Low A: Tampa (27-11) lost 3-2. Game called after five innings.

Game 66. Yanks come from behind for a 6-5 win.

Before the game, GM Brian Cashman addressed the media, stating he still believes in manager Aaron Boone and the team and that the Yankees (34-32, 3rd in AL East, 8 back) would be buyers, not sellers, at the trade deadline.

The Yanks then went out and snapped their 3-game losing streak with a 6-5 win in Buffalo over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The night started off shaky. Yankees’ starter Jordan Montgomery walked the bases loaded with no one out in the bottom of the first but got out of the inning giving up only one run.

Gary Sanchez tied the game up in the top of the second with his ninth HR of the season.

Yankee-killer Bo Bichette homered in the third inning to give the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Chris Gittens got his first MLB hit, a HR, to tie the game. Gittens was 0 for 14 before that.

Toronto came back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, all with two out, and Bichette was the guy again, delivering a two-run single.

The Yanks cut it to 5-3 in the top of the sixth. With one out, Gio Urshela singled, and Sanchez doubled him to third. A groundout by Miguel Andujar scored Urshela.

The Yanks then tied it up it the seventh, thanks to a gift run. Brett Gardner led off the inning with his second HR of the season. D.J. LeMahieu then doubled. Two wild pitches enabled LeMahieu to score and tie up the game.

The game-winning run came in the top of the eighth. Andujar singled, and Tyler Wade pinch-ran for him. One out later, Wade stole second, and pinch-hitter Clint Frazier then doubled home Wade to make it 6-5.

An oddity: Gerrit Cole, who is starting tonight, leads the Yankees with seven wins. Second is Jonathan Loaisiga with six—all in relief.

LeMahieu 2 hits
Sanchez 2 hits, solo HR (9)
Gittens solo HR (1). FIRST MLB HIT.
Gardner solo HR (2)
Frazier pinch-hit GW RBI double.


Montgomery 5 1/3 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 H, 4 W, 4 K. Gave up 1 HR. 4.20
Cessa 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 1 K. 3.33
Loaisiga (W, 6-2) 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 W, 0 K. 1.78
Britton (H, 1) 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 W, 0 K. 0.00
Chapman (S, 13) 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.85


Minor League Notes: TIme to really get concerned about Deivi Garcia. He only got one man out last night, and gave up five runs. His ERA at AAA SWB is now 8.10 (and in his 2 starts with the Yankees, 6.48). Ugly. Estevan Florial had 2 doubles and a HR, and drove in 3 runs as SWB (21-11) won 12-6. Florial is still hitting just .195. 2B Hoy Jun Park went 4 for 4, 3 RBI, and is hitting .365 for SWB. I, for one, advocate calling him up and replacing Odor.

AA: Luke Voit went 1 for 4 on rehab as Somerset (23-13) won 10-1. Starter Glenn Otto 7 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 W, 14 K (3-2, 3.95). SS Oswald Peraza 3 hits, 2B Diego Castillo 3 hits, 4 RBI, 2-run HR. C Donny Sands 3 hits, 3 RBI, 2 HR, a solo shot and a 2-run shot.

High A: Hudson Valley (21-14) won 6-5. C Josh Breaux 2 hits, solo HR. 1B Chad Bell a 3-run HR.

Low A: Tampa (27-10) won 10-5. C Austin Wells 3 hits, RBI. RF Josh Sanford 4 for 4, 2 RBI, solo HR. 2B Trevor Hauver 2 hits, 2 RBI. Two others with 2 hits each.

Game 65. Yanks need to reassess things after a 7-0 loss.

The Yankees are off today, before starting a three-game set in Buffalo against the Toronto Blue Jays.

That doesn’t mean they should take the day off, especially ownership and the front office.

This team needs a reassessment. A total shakeup and breakdown starting at the top. A 7-0 loss yesterday to the Phillies puts the Yankees at 33-32, barely above .500, in 4th place in their division out of five teams, and 8 1/2 back of the first place Tampa Bay Rays.

It’s serious look in the mirror time.

It’s not just this year. Yes, the Yanks made the extended postseason last year, but the record wasn’t great. 33-27 plus this year’s 33-32 means that they are 66-59 in their last 125 games. That isn’t a small sample size, but a significant one. 66-59 isn’t excellent, or even good. It’s above average. And this team is supposed to be better than above average.

There are certain moves the Yankees cannot do because of contract limitations. Understood. But moves need to be made. This cannot continue.

Once again, the Yanks got into an early 4-0 hole. This time after two innings. They only got four hits in the game, two by D.J. LeMahieu.

With the two-game sweep of the Yanks this weekend, ex-manager Joe Girardi had the last laugh, you may say.

The Yanks looked flat. They played awful. There was another atrocious baserunning mistake (Odor). Even sure-handed LeMahieu made a sloppy error. Manager Aaron Boone snapped at one reporter’s question in the postgame press conference.

There is a lot of frustration, and it’s among everyone, players, front office, and fans.

Something needs to be done, or this team may be double-digits behind soon (they are 8 1/2 back now) and this season could be over very soon. I don’t see a 1978-like comeback in this team.

There isn’t much more to write. This team needs a major shakeup.

LeMahieu 2 hits (of the 4 the Yanks got).

German (L, 4-4) 4 1/3 IP, 7 R, 10 H, 1 W, 2 K. 3.88
Peralta 2/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 0 K. 4.43 (combined SF/NYY ERA)
Luetge 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 W, 2 K. 1 HBP. 2.78
Loaisiga 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 W, 1 K. 1.83

Aaron Judge didn’t play because of back spasms. And in an NL park, no DH, they could not even risk putting Giancarlo Stanton in the OF for at least one game? Sheesh.

Stanton being unable to play the field hurts this team. A thought. The guy is 6’6″. A big target. Can he at least learn 1B in order to SOMETIMES play the field? Heck, a crippled Mickey Mantle learned 1B for his last two seasons. Just a thought. The same applies to the 6’7″ Aaron Judge.

Speaking of 1B, Chris Gittens is now 0 for 13 since being called up. Luke Voit began another rehab stint with SWB and was 1 for 3 yesterday, scored a run, had a double and an RBI. They need Voit back, and for Voit to be Voit again.

The Yanks did make some promotions in the minors. One of them is that of Ken Waldichuk, he of the 0.00 ERA at high A Hudson Valley (30 2/3 IP). He is being moved up to AA Somerset. Hayden Wesneski in also going from High A to AA and the same with Luis Medina. Three starting pitchers moving up from High A to AA. Recently SS Oswald Peraza went from High A to AA. It looks like P Janson Junk will be promoted from AA to AAA.

All four of the Yankees’ minor league affiliates won yesterday, three of them by shutout.

Jim “Mudcat” Grant, AL’s first black 20-game winner, passes away at age 85.

Jim “Mudcat” Grant, who in 1965 became the first black AL pitcher to win 20 games, has passed away at the age of 85.

Grant went 21-7, 3.30, ERA+ 108 for the Twins that year in leading them to the AL Pennant. He led the league in wins, winning pct., shutouts (6), was an All-Star (he also was one in 1963), and finished 6th in MVP voting that year.

He started 3 games in the WS that year. He won 2 games, both by complete games, and lost one. He won Game 1, lost Game 4, and won Game 6 on just two day’s rest. Not only did he pitch a complete game victory on two day’s rest, but Grant also hit a 3-run HR in that Game 6.

Grant pitched for the Indians (1958-1964), Twins (1964-1967), Dodgers (1968), Expos (1969), Cardinals (1969), A’s (1970), Pirates (1970-1971) and finished up back with the A’s in 1971. His last MLB appearance came in relief for the A’s in the 1971 ALCS.

He was 145-119 in his career with an ERA of 3.63, ERA+ right on the league average of 100. He had 54 saves, 24 in 1970.

His 162 game average was 11-9, 3.63, 4 saves (23 starts, 22 relief).

As a hitter, Grant hit .178 with six HR. OPS+27.